Hostel Activities

Our dedicated activities staff offer lots of fun tours and social events, where you can meet up with other travelers and explore the city.

In addition to the regular schedule listed below, different activities are programmed every week, so be sure to check our activities board in the lobby. Also see our event calendar to for other free/low-cost outings in San Francisco.

LoteriaMondays, 8:00 p.m. Join your fellow hostellers for a couple of rounds of the traditional Mexican card game Loteria, which is similar to bingo, except players try to match pictures on cards instead of numbers. Get stuck in a bit of friendly competition and have some fun with new friends!

Bike the BayTuesdays, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Cost: $18 for bike rental (with $100 deposit) and $10 for optional ferry ride Mel and El take you on a scenic bicycle ride through the city and across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito and back. Stops include the Palace of Fine Arts in the Presidio and Crissy Field, and lunch will be enjoyed overlooking the bay from Sausalito. Helmets are required, and you must know how to ride a bicycle.Note: This tour leaves from HI San Francisco Downtown hostel.

Homemade DinnerTuesdays, 8:00 p.m. Cost: $2 Fill your belly and bond with other travelers over a good and delicious homemade dinner! The suggested $2 donation goes to non-profits in the area.

Hills of San Francisco Walking TourWednesdays, 9:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Join your guide Henry for an extensive walk along the streets and over the hills of some of San Francisco’s most scenic neighborhoods. Learn the history and enjoy the views of Russian Hill, Telegraph Hill, Nob Hill, North Beach, and Chinatown. See some old homes in town as well as Lombard Street, Coit Tower, hidden gardens, stairways and alleys. Bring water, a snack, camera, pen and paper. Read more…Note: This tour leaves from HI San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf hostel.

Chinese Tea TastingWednesdays, 8:00 p.m. Cost: Free! Our resident “tea master” Anthony shares various Chinese teas, explains their health benefits, and reveals some of the mysticism in San Francisco tea culture. Or, in Anthony’s words: “How often will you get to see a Greek Goth American performing an ancient Chinese tradition?”

Tri-Hostel Pub CrawlThursdays, 8:00 p.m. Cost: Pay for your own drinks Enjoy a classic night out in San Francisco with guests from HI SF Downtown and HI SF Fisherman’s Wharf! The famous tour includes stops at three awesome bars and a chance to make friends from all over the world! You must be 21 and older to join.

Chinatown Walking TourFridays, 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Cost: Free! Let Anthony take you on a trip to one of San Francisco’s oldest and most captivating neighborhoods: Chinatown. The area is another world unto itself, bustling with shops and buzzing with people. Explore hidden alleyways, sip various Chinese teas, see mysterious historic temples, and visit the famous San Francisco Fortune Cookie Factory.

Mission District Walking TourSaturdays, 12:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Cost: Free! Want to know where San Franciscans go to escape the fog? On weekends, they make a beeline to the Mission, where the chances of it being sunny are high, and where art, culture and nightlife thrive. Spend your Saturdays like a local! You’ll get to have a drink in a beer garden, eat a burrito, and people watch in Dolores Park. We’ll also throw in a bit of history, and check out some murals and street art along the way. Find out more…

Movie MacabreSaturdays, 10:00 p.m. Cost: Free! Night owls and insomniacs can gather in the hostels common areas for a free screening of movies that give thrills and chills!